Details from a piece of the Riesco Collection which was recently sold off by Croydon Council

Following last autumn’s Croydon Arts Debate chaired by Lord Harries, a further meeting is being held at Croydon Conference Centre on Surrey Street on Saturday, February 15 at 3pm to establish an independent body which can co-ordinate activity across the borough without any vested interest other than serving the community.

John Lawlor, one of the residents with the South Croydon Community Association, said, “We are looking for supporters and trustees for this body, which will bring together the whole spectrum of arts organisations which exist within Croydon.”

The new body will:

• Develop a cultural strategy for Croydon
• Have links with national organisations
• Bid for funds on behalf of Croydon arts organisations
• Operate a database of organisations who will be able to post their own events into a What’s on in Croydon application which will be available on all tech platforms.

Lawlor said that the new organisation is looking for trustees who:

• Are able to commit long-term
• Are reliable
• Have no vested interest ie will not be seeking funds for their own projects
• Have contacts with or are able to liaise with national organisations
• Can oversee bid-writing and functional areas such as administration and fund-raising
• Have board-level experience (nice to have)
• Are politically independent.

They also seek specialist skills and experience in:

• Law
• Strategy development
• Building and property

“Trustees will be rotated after a given period, and do not have to be resident in Croydon – they just need to have an interest in the well-being of Croydon,” Lawlor said. “Diversity in all aspects is important.

“Whether you wish to support or are interested in being a trustee, please come to this meeting.”

• Further details are available from John Lawlor at johnlawlorathome@gmail.com

Coming to Croydon

• Babylon at the Spread Eagle Theatre, Feb 4-6
• Steve Knightly at Stanley Halls: Feb 5
• Purley Swimathon: Feb 8 and 13
• Mark Steel at Ashcroft Theatre, Feb 12
• Chinese New Year children’s event, Upper Norwood Library, Feb 18
• Welsh myths children’s event, Upper Norwood Library, Feb 20
• Norwood Society talk, Upper Norwood Library, Feb 20
• Mr Pooter comes to Croydon, Feb 20-22
• Warm and Well event, Upper Norwood Library, Feb 22
• Stop the Incinerator fund-raiser, Feb 24
• Fairtrade event, Upper Norwood Library, Mar 1
• Coulsdon and Purley Debating Society, Mar 3
• Patchwork and quilting workshop, Upper Norwood Library, Mar 3
• Upper Norwood Library Book Club, Mar 15
• Norwood Society talk, Upper Norwood Library, Mar 20
• Croydon Half-marathon, Mar 30

• If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, a residents’ or business association or local event, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com